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awwcripes's review against another edition
3.0
Overly broad. Good general bird advice but needs to be more region specific to be useful
felinity's review against another edition
5.0
If you live in the U.S. and have any interest in gardening or birds/butterflies, this will be an excellent resource for you. The aim of this book is, as the author says, "to give you the tools to set up a sustainable ecosystem in your own yard" by using native plants and an organic approach, whenever possible.
It's filled with great ideas and useful tips, interspersed with reference information, which range from laying out your garden to picking plants that give year-round interest, food and shelter to a variety of birds and butterflies. There are plenty of well-labeled pictures which make it clear what's being described and entice you into luring those same birds and butterflies to your yard, as well as instructions for building and locating nest boxes or creating your own garden pond. Sun/shade calendar charts make it easy to plan suitable gardens for your region.
For those who are new to their region or just don't yet know that much about birds, it also includes plenty of basic information about feeding and nesting and some clues to help you identify your feathered visitors, while talking about native plants, soil, climate, developing a landscape plan, planting and then caring for your garden.
Part III contains a bird-friendly plant directory, indicating - as well as height, cultivation and zone - which plants are good for nesting, shelter, roosting, butterflies, hummingbirds, fall color and showy flowers, while being full of pictures of the plants as well as the birds they attract and shelter. (It is organized by botanical name, but there is an index at the back of the book for those, like me, who are less familiar with them.)
Part IV is the bird directory, again illustrated with photographs and with the addition of detailed pencil drawings, representing a cross-section of those most likely to be seen in gardens, with information beyond that of basic identification: habitat, migration, breeding behavior, nesting and feeding and the best plants for their food and shelter are all discussed for each one.
Ideal for any bird-lover and gardener, whether amateur or experienced, or even just as a coffee table book for the incredible photographs! Even a relative newcomer to the worlds of gardening or birds will find this encouraging book very accessible, even if all they have to garden is a rooftop area or balcony, as its strength is in keeping that perfect balance between sufficient, comprehensive information and too much detail.
Disclaimer: I received a free ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
It's filled with great ideas and useful tips, interspersed with reference information, which range from laying out your garden to picking plants that give year-round interest, food and shelter to a variety of birds and butterflies. There are plenty of well-labeled pictures which make it clear what's being described and entice you into luring those same birds and butterflies to your yard, as well as instructions for building and locating nest boxes or creating your own garden pond. Sun/shade calendar charts make it easy to plan suitable gardens for your region.
For those who are new to their region or just don't yet know that much about birds, it also includes plenty of basic information about feeding and nesting and some clues to help you identify your feathered visitors, while talking about native plants, soil, climate, developing a landscape plan, planting and then caring for your garden.
Part III contains a bird-friendly plant directory, indicating - as well as height, cultivation and zone - which plants are good for nesting, shelter, roosting, butterflies, hummingbirds, fall color and showy flowers, while being full of pictures of the plants as well as the birds they attract and shelter. (It is organized by botanical name, but there is an index at the back of the book for those, like me, who are less familiar with them.)
Part IV is the bird directory, again illustrated with photographs and with the addition of detailed pencil drawings, representing a cross-section of those most likely to be seen in gardens, with information beyond that of basic identification: habitat, migration, breeding behavior, nesting and feeding and the best plants for their food and shelter are all discussed for each one.
Ideal for any bird-lover and gardener, whether amateur or experienced, or even just as a coffee table book for the incredible photographs! Even a relative newcomer to the worlds of gardening or birds will find this encouraging book very accessible, even if all they have to garden is a rooftop area or balcony, as its strength is in keeping that perfect balance between sufficient, comprehensive information and too much detail.
Disclaimer: I received a free ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
plantbirdwoman's review against another edition
4.0
If you are interested in creating a habitat garden, a garden that fits seamlessly into your local environment and is welcoming to local wildlife, this is a book that can help you achieve your goal. George Adams' emphasis is upon attracting birds to the garden, but, in fact, his gardening method will also attract butterflies, bees, and other pollinators, small reptiles and amphibians, as well as avian visitors. It will be a place that is welcoming to them all and that is much more interesting for any humans that spend time in it.
One of the most popular hobbies in the country is feeding birds. An entire multi-million dollar industry has grown up around supplying feeders and feed to the hobbyists, but putting up a bird feeder in your yard is not necessarily the best way to attract birds or to attract a wide range of species. You might wind up with nothing but House Sparrows, which is not what most people who want to watch birds in their yards are aiming for.
A better approach is to actually put in the effort to create the kind of habitat that the birds are looking for. The author advises us to look at our yards from a bird's eye view. When we do that, we can begin to see that a bird-friendly landscape is what they are seeking. They want plants that are familiar to them, plants that provide food, shelter, and a place to raise their young. And, of course, they want a source of clean, fresh water.
In his introduction to his book, George Adams writes:
That is a succinct summary of the philosophy behind this book and the philosophy behind habitat gardening in general. It is one that I subscribe to and try to put in practice in my garden.
Adams explains that when you use native plants, plants with which birds and other wildlife are familiar, you will be mimicking their natural ecosystems. In doing so, you will provide birds with food, water, shelter, and nesting places, so that, instead of simply visiting and passing through, they will linger. They will call your garden home and you will have the bonus of observing them, up close and personal.
This book provides helpful calendars which list native plants from each region of the country. The calendars show the light needs of the plants, which animals make use of them and which months they will bloom, as well as other useful information. There are calendars for hummingbird and butterfly flowers, wildflowers, and for seasonal fruiting.
The author shows how to develop your landscape plan, according to the properties of your own particular region. He shows that even small garden spaces can create friendly habitats for birds. He also discusses some of the problems which may arise - things like nuisance birds such as House Sparrows and European Starlings, cats, and the unwelcome guests like rats and mice that bird feeders can sometimes attract.
Finally, there is a substantial plant directory, covering more than one hundred pages, which lists native plants from all sections of the country and their needs, as well as some of the birds they may attract. And there is a cross reference directory with profiles of the individual bird species, featuring wonderful pictures, which gives information about their preferred habitat and their behavior and, most importantly, what plants you can plant to attract them.
This book, in short, gives a helpful but not overwhelming amount of detail regarding the horticulture of the plants and the garden design strategies. It features wonderful pictures of plants and birds that should be useful to both the birding and non-birding gardener. And the charts are well-organized and easy to understand. It is a book that provides a primer for anyone who is interested in creating a bird-friendly habitat in their yard. It should find a place on the bookshelves of gardeners and birders alike. And, yes, they are quite often the same people.
(A free copy of this book was provided to me by the publisher for the purposes of this review. No other compensation was given and the opinions here are entirely my own.)
One of the most popular hobbies in the country is feeding birds. An entire multi-million dollar industry has grown up around supplying feeders and feed to the hobbyists, but putting up a bird feeder in your yard is not necessarily the best way to attract birds or to attract a wide range of species. You might wind up with nothing but House Sparrows, which is not what most people who want to watch birds in their yards are aiming for.
A better approach is to actually put in the effort to create the kind of habitat that the birds are looking for. The author advises us to look at our yards from a bird's eye view. When we do that, we can begin to see that a bird-friendly landscape is what they are seeking. They want plants that are familiar to them, plants that provide food, shelter, and a place to raise their young. And, of course, they want a source of clean, fresh water.
In his introduction to his book, George Adams writes:
To attract birds to your garden, the backbone of your landscaping plan should be local native plants. By putting in native plants and using an organic, sustainable approach to gardening, you establish a balanced ecosystem in your yard. A greater variety of birds and butterflies will visit and linger, insect pests will be kept under control by insect-eating birds (reducing the need for harmful insecticides), and the wonder of nature will be part of your everyday living environment.
That is a succinct summary of the philosophy behind this book and the philosophy behind habitat gardening in general. It is one that I subscribe to and try to put in practice in my garden.
Adams explains that when you use native plants, plants with which birds and other wildlife are familiar, you will be mimicking their natural ecosystems. In doing so, you will provide birds with food, water, shelter, and nesting places, so that, instead of simply visiting and passing through, they will linger. They will call your garden home and you will have the bonus of observing them, up close and personal.
This book provides helpful calendars which list native plants from each region of the country. The calendars show the light needs of the plants, which animals make use of them and which months they will bloom, as well as other useful information. There are calendars for hummingbird and butterfly flowers, wildflowers, and for seasonal fruiting.
The author shows how to develop your landscape plan, according to the properties of your own particular region. He shows that even small garden spaces can create friendly habitats for birds. He also discusses some of the problems which may arise - things like nuisance birds such as House Sparrows and European Starlings, cats, and the unwelcome guests like rats and mice that bird feeders can sometimes attract.
Finally, there is a substantial plant directory, covering more than one hundred pages, which lists native plants from all sections of the country and their needs, as well as some of the birds they may attract. And there is a cross reference directory with profiles of the individual bird species, featuring wonderful pictures, which gives information about their preferred habitat and their behavior and, most importantly, what plants you can plant to attract them.
This book, in short, gives a helpful but not overwhelming amount of detail regarding the horticulture of the plants and the garden design strategies. It features wonderful pictures of plants and birds that should be useful to both the birding and non-birding gardener. And the charts are well-organized and easy to understand. It is a book that provides a primer for anyone who is interested in creating a bird-friendly habitat in their yard. It should find a place on the bookshelves of gardeners and birders alike. And, yes, they are quite often the same people.
(A free copy of this book was provided to me by the publisher for the purposes of this review. No other compensation was given and the opinions here are entirely my own.)
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